Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Mar Roxas usually wears a yellow ribbon pin, but when he faced the media on Tuesday (September 29), he was wearing a slipper: a symbol synonymous to the so-called “tsinelas leadership” of the late interior secretary Jesse Robredo, husband of Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.
Roxas was quick to explain why he had this pin on. He said it has nothing to do with him waiting on Mrs. Robredo’s decision on his offer for her run as his vice president.
He said he traded pins with a barangay official he met at the Liga ng Barangay general assembly.
“Binigay ko sa kanya yellow ribbon at binigay niya sakin tsinelas na pin bilang symbolo ng panunungkulan ni Sec. Jess, natuwa naman ako,” Roxas said.
It appears that LP is now banking solely on Robredo.
Its other option for vice president, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, has gone ahead and declared his intention to run.
LP has no problems about it.
Roxas said he wasn’t even in the meeting where President Aquino and Cayetano supposedly talked about 2016.
“No there was not a question of turning down… Nirecruit ko siya bilang deputy ko sa pagiging majority leader… I wish him luck,” said Roxas.
LP no plan B after Leni?
Mrs. Robredo earlier asked for time to think and consult her daughters — whom Roxas himself has already talked to.
“Nauunawaan ko si Cong. Leni. May tawag at may hamon na nahaharap niya. Byuda siya, tatlong anak. Isa nasa high school pa. Hindi madali ito noh. Nauuwanaan ko na nung isang araw ay humingi siya ng lifeline,” said Roxas.
But it seems LP doesn’t have a plan B in case she turns them down.
According to Budget Sec. Florencio “Butch” Abad, they’re no longer in talks with other possible vice presidential candidates.
“In the past there were discussions but right now in deference to the process that’s going on within their family, I don’t think we can entertain further discussions because we’re just simply awaiting their decision,” Abad said.
LP is set to announce its entire slate next week—president, vice president and the complete Senate slate.
“The first order of the day is to sort out within the party who are running, then who from within the admin, then after that we look at coalition partners,” said Abad
It was supposed to be announced at the party convention tomorrow but it appears the party needs to resolve several issues, including finalizing its coalition partners.
Comelec will only political party conventions until tomorrow.
Even if the party ends up not finalizing its slate, an option is to grant Roxas the authority to decide on it.
Roxas is certain they’ll have a complete slate on Monday.
